Control device for liquid fuel burners



May 30, 1933. A. J. GILBERT ET AL CQNTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Filed April 24, 1931 11/1 /1114 A I v I? Patented May 30, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE ALFRED J. GILBERT, OF WINDSOR, AND OLOF J. GRANDAHL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTI- CUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE SILENT GLOW OIL BURNER CORPORATION, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Application filed April 24, 1931.

This invention relates to control valves intended more particularly, though not exclusively, for the control of a liquid fuel supply from a common supply pipe to the two :mPs of a pair of duplex or twin burners iiCll it is desired to control the supply of liquid fuel to each burner either independently of or coordinately with the other.

The invention has, among other objects, the provision of a valve structure of simplified and relatively inexpensive form consisting of a reduced number of parts, as contrasted with control valves heretofore employed for that purpose, capable of being readily cleaned, of compact size and of such form that it may be positioned in close proximity to other objects, such as the side of a kitchen range in which the burner units are installed, susceptible of easy and simplified manipulation and so arranged that fuel supply conditions as to either or both burners may be easily ascertained from casual observation of the valve. The invention will be best understood by 3) reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing:

Fig.1 is a central,lo ngitudinal section taken through the valve structure, showing the latter on a somewhat larger than actual P, scale; Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional elevation on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve structure on a somewhat smaller scale, showing the covering shield;

49 Fig. 4 is an end view of the valve structure on the same scale as Fig. 4; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a typical oil burner, in the control of which the illustrated form of valve may be employed.

Referring to the drawing and to the em- Serial No. 532,664.

bodiment of the invention there shown for illustrative purposes, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the valve comprises an elongated valve casing 11 having an interior supply chamber 13 intermediate, and herein substantially midway between, its ends, to which liquid fuel is supplied through the pipe connection 15 threaded into the bottom of the casing and connected by a pipe or conduit to any suitable source of oil supply. For descriptive purposes, liquid fuel is herein referred to as oil.

At each opposite end of the supply chamber 13, the casing has formed therein a port of circular cross-section, the two ports being in axial alignment and cooperatively related each to a control valve, which valves are also axially aligned but oppositely disposed. ()ne valve only need be described, as they are similar in construction, except in respect to the features hereinafter referred to.

Each valve comprises a stem 17 having threaded engagement with the bore of the casing so as to be capable, when turned, of being advanced or retracted with relation to its port. In advance of the threaded portion of the stem, the latter is provided with a head 19 of reduced cylindrical cross-section to provide an annular, oil-delivery space around the same, the head having a shoulder at its forward end adapted to seat against and close the adjoining port, and having also a protruding end 21'entering into and having a sliding fit within the port opening. The entering head 21 is so shaped, as by the oblique transverse slot 23 formed in its end, that when the valve is rotated the port is opened, at first slightly and then by an increasing amount as more of the slot 23 is uncovered. The pitch of the threads on the stem is such that a partial turn of the stem will move the valve from a closed position to a position in which the port is sufliciently opened to provide the required full supply of oil for the burner.

The valve stems protrude through opposite ends of the casing, suitable packing being provided and held in place by the gland 27 and nut 29, the latter threaded on the end of the casing.

To the protruding end of each valve stem is secured a valve actuating member, herein in the form of a radial arm 31, clamped to a shouldered portion of the stem by a nut 37. The shouldered portion of the stem and the engaging part of the arm are provided with small, interfitting notches or teeth which hold the arm fixedly on the stem but permit it to be removed and readjusted to different angular positions to compensate for wear, or for any other reasons requiring a resetting of the arm. Each actuating arm extends radially upward and terminates in a lateral extension 39 forming an index member in the shape of a finger or pointer which extends inwardly and over but in close relation to a scale or series of graduations (Fig. 3), representing the degree of port opening or the rate at which oil is being supplied. These graduations are marked at each opposite end of a covering shield 41 which overlies the entire valve structure and is parti-cylindrical in shape, the axis of the cylinder coinciding approximately with the axis of the valve, so that the graduated edges of the shield lie in approximate parallelism to the path of movement of the index member 39. The shield 41 is secured by screws 43 to the upright studs 45 threaded into the top of the valve casing.

To position the valve actuating arm in any assigned position of adjustment, opposite edges of the shield may be provided with a series of notches or'serrations 47, and the abutting face of each arm' has pressed or otherwise formed in it a somewhat rounded protrusion 49 (Fig. 1) adapted toengage the notches. The arm is preferably somewhat resilient and is clamped on the stem in such a position that it bears yieldably against the notched edge of the shield so that it may be held thereby in any assigned position to which it is moved but may be readily turned and slipped from. one notch to another. The index member 39 may be provided with a button 51, or other suitable means may be utilized, to conveniently manipulate each val e actuating arm. Each opposite edge of the shield 41 is provided with a stop projection adapted to limit. the movement of each actuating arm when its valve has been opened to the full intended limit.

It will be observed that one valve stem (herein the left-hand one in Fig. 1) is provided with right-hand threads, while the opposite valve stem has left-hand threads, so that in opening or' closing the respective valves both index members move in the same direction, as viewed from the operators standpoint, that is to say, from above in Fig. 3, one valve (right-hand one in Fig. 1) actually having a clockwise opening movement and the other a counterclockwise opening movement. The result that the index members in the closed or open position, or in the same intermediate position, of both valves lie directly opposite each other in positions of exact alignment, pointing toward each other along substantially the same element of the cylindrical shield. Accordingly, a mere casual or distant observation of the relative positions of the index fingers on the shield, and without the necessity of reference to the scale, will enable one to see at any time whether oil is being supplied to both burners at the same rate or at different rates, and if at different rates the relation between the two. Furthermore, due to the segmental form of the scale-bearing end of the shield, which, to the view of the operator, spreads the graduations in a linear series, as contrasted with a circular series, the degree to which either valve is open may be readily ascertained from a casual or distant observation, and without examination of the scale, by observing the general position of the index member along the segmental scale and its relation to the opposite ends thereof.

The segmental shield not only provides a protecting covering for the valve structure and adds to its neat and attractive appearance, but also facilitates the manipulation of the valve actuating arms, particularly if the valve structure is set up in close proximity to some other object, such as a wall or the side of a kitchen range, since the shield provides a fulcruming rest for a thumb or finger of the hand used to manipulate the valve actuating arm, as well as a guide for thefinger or thumb which is applied to move the button.

When the valves are opened, oil passes from the central supply chamber 13 through the ports into the annular chambers surrounding the valve head 19, passing thence into pipe connections or nipples 5? which are threaded into the side of the valve casing, and thence into the burner feed or delivery pipes.

Since the two oppositely disposed valves, with the ports controlled thereby and the supply chamber therefor, are all mounted in one and the same valve casing, the construction is greatly simplified and the number of parts required and joints necessary is reduced to a minimum, while the assembled structure is small, compact and inexpensive to build as contrasted with valves of the prior art employed for similar purposes. Due to their relationship. the manipulation of the valves is easy, simplified and instinctive and the relative position of the valves is readily ascertained from the relative position of the index fingers. The described structure also has the advantage of being readily cleaned from sludge, dirt or other accumulations, since the removal of the valves from the casing provides a straight-away opening through the ports and the supply and delivery chambers through which a cleaning member may be inserted. To further facilitate cleaning, the valve casing has an opening in the top of the supply chamber aligning with the supply connection or nipple 15, which opening is closed by the threaded plug 58.

In Fig. 5 we have shown the application of the described form of valve structure to the control of a burner which, by way of illustration, is shown as one of the combustion tube type, such as is disclosed in patent to Sherman No. 1,676,223, dated July 3, 1928. This burner is provided with burner units 59 and 61, the base of each unit only being shown, with the combustion tubes removed. In the illustrated construction the nipples 57 of the valve structure are connected to the oil delivery pipes 63, thereby delivering oil under the control of the valve to the burner 59 through the oil supply opening 65 at the bottom of the inner fuel groove thereof and to the burner 61 through the oil opening 67 at the bottom of the inner fuel groove of that burner. In the normal operation of the burner, oil delivered to the fuel grooves is vaporized and, becoming mixed with air supplied through the combustion tubes, burns in the combustion chambers of each burner with a blue flame, the rate of supply to each burner being regulated by its respective valve.

While we have herein shown and described for the purpose of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that extensive changes may be made in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts, all without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends and provided with oppositely disposed ports. a supply conduit connected to said chamber, axially aligned but oppositely disposed valves cooperatively related one to each port with their stems protruding from opposite of the casing, said valves having one a right-hand threaded engagement with the walls of the casing and the other a left-hand threaded engagement therewith, separate delivery conduits controlled one by each valve, :1 parti-cylindrical covering shield for the valve presenting adjacent each opposite edge a graduated scale. an actuating arm secured to the opposite protruding end of each valve stem, and an index member carried by each arm in cooperative relation to the scale.

2. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed valves having their stems extending through opposite ends of the casing, separate delivery conduits communicating with said supply chamber and controlled by said respective valves, one of said valves having a clockwise opening movement and the other a counterclockwise opening movement, a parti-cylindrical covering shield for the valve having opposite notched edges and presenting adjacent each edge a graduated scale, a resilient actuating arm secured to the opposite protruding end of each valve stem and adapted to bear against the corresponding notched edge of the shield, each arm having an index member in cooperative relation to the adjacent shield.

3. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed valves having their stems extending through opposite ends of the ca sing, separate delivery conduits communicating with said supply chamber and controlled by said respective valves, one of said valves having a clockwise opening movement and the other a counterclockwise opening movement, a covering shield for the valve presenting adjacent each opposite edge a graduated scale, and an actuating arm secured to the opposite protruding ends of each valve stem and having an index member in cooperative relation to the scale.

4. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising a valve casing having a supply chamber, oppositely disposed regulating valves having stems extending through opposite ends of the casing,

separate delivery conduits communicating with said supply chamber and controlled by the respective valves. a manually adjusted actuating arm secured to the protruding end of each valve for setting the same at various adjusted positions, each of said arms carrying an index member at its end, and a segmental scale member in cooperative relation to each index member, one of said valves having a right hand threaded engagement with the walls of said casing and the other having a similar but left hand threaded engagement therewith. said segmental scales being graduated equally and in parallel relation to present indications of equal opening of the valves directly opposite cnc another, and said index members lying directlv opposite one another in the closed positions of said valves, thereby to exhibit equal ranges of opening of valves extended in the same direction in parallel relation and directly opposite each other to facilitate comparison of the flow through said respective valves and relative adjustment thereof.

5. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated casing, a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed valves extending through opposite ends of the casing, separate delivery conduits communicating with the supply chamber and controlled by the respective valves, a parti-cylindrical shield covering the valve casing and presenting indicating means adjacent each of its edges in proximity to the extending ends of said valves, and complementary indicating means carried by said extending valve ends in cooperating relation to the indicating means of said shield.

6. A regulating valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends and provided with aligned but oppositely disposed ports, a supply conduit onnected to said chamber, axially aligned but oppositely disposed regulating valves, one at each end of the casing and cooperatively related one to each port, said valves having one a right-hand threaded engagement with the walls of the casing and the other a left-hand threaded engagement therewith, separate delivery conduits controlled one by each valve, an external manually adjusted regulating member for each valve for setting the same at various regulated positions. and oppositely arranged similar indicating devices. one for each valve, comprising each an indicating scale member and a cooperating index member. one of said members being mounted to move with said actuating member and the other being secured to said valve casing, the index members. in the clo ed and other corresponding positions of the two valves, displaying their indications to the same point of view, indicating corresponding values on said scales, and exhibiting said corresponding values in linearly opposite arrangement to facilitate relative adjustment and comparison of the flow through the respective valves.

7. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends. oppositely disposed valves having their stems extending through opposite ends of the casing. separate delivery conduits communicating with said supply chamber and controlled by said respective valves. one of said valves having a clockwise opening movement and the other a counterclockwise opening movement. a covering shield for the valve casing presenting adjacent each opposite edge an indicating means, actuating means secured to the protruding end of each valve stem, and cooperating indicating means movable with reference to the indicating means of said shield for indicating the position of each of said valves.

8. A regulating valve structure as set forth in claim 8, in which said respective index members comprise portions extending parallel to the axis of the valve, which lie closely adjacent to and in overlapping relation to said scale members, said parallel extension of said portions giving emphasis to the provision for comparing corresponding indications in linear opposite relation.

9. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising a valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed regulating valves having stems extending through opposite ends of the casing, separate delivery conduits communicating with the supply chamber and controlled by the respective valves, shield means covering said casing, similar indicating means carried by said respective valve stems, and similar cooperating indicating means presented by said shield means in linearly opposite relation to one another to facilitate relative adjustment and comparison of the flow through the respective valves.

10. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated valve casing having a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed valves having their stems extending through opposite ends of the casing, separate delivery conduits communicating with said supply chamber and controlled by said respective valves, one of said valves having a clockwise opening movement and the other a counterclockwise opening movement, a parti-cylindrical covering shield for the valve casing having opposite notched edges and presenting a graduated scale, a resilient actuating arm secured to the opposite protruding end of each valve stem and adapted to bear against the corresponding notched edge of the shield, each arm having an index member in cooperative relation to the scale on the shield.

11. A controlling valve structure for liquid fuel burners or the like comprising an elongated casing, a supply chamber intermediate its ends, oppositely disposed valves extending through opposite ends of the casing, separate delivery conduits communicating with the supply chamber and controlled by the respective valves, a partially cylindrical shield, carried by and over the valve casing, and presenting indicating means upon its upper face, and complementary indicating means carried by said extending valve ends in cooperating relation to the indicating means of said shield.

12. A regulating valve structure according to claim 6, in which the supply chamber of the valve casing is provided with a clean-out plug located at its top and positioned to provide for cleaning out of the supply conduit connected to said chamber, and in which the members of the indicating devices secured to said casing, constitute each an end portion of a shield member removably secured to said casing and overlying said clean-out plug.

13. A regulating valve structure as set forth in claim 6, in which the members of the indicating devices, secured to said casing, constitute each an end portion of a longitudinal member extending parallel to the axis of the valve casing above the top of the same and secured to the casing against misalignment With respect thereto by means threaded to said casing.

14. A regulating valve structure as set forth in claim 11, said shield carried by said casing being supported thereover by spaced studs extending from said casing and to Which said shield is secured.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification.

ALFRED J. GILBERT. OLOF J. GRANDAHL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,912,131. May 30, 1933.

ALFRED J. GILBERT. ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 63, claim 8, for claim numeral "8" read "6"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August. A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

